Boise Soldier Pleads Guilty To Killing Afghan Civilian

A military judge has accepted a guilty plea by an Idaho soldier charged with taking part in the thrill-killing of an Afghan civilian last year. Pvt. 1st Class Andrew Holmes, of Boise was among five soldiers charged in a grisly plot to murder civilians during patrols last year. He pleaded guilty Thursday to unpremeditated murder, unlawfully possessing a finger bone from the first victim's corpse, and drug use. He confessed in court for the first time Thursday that he knew when he shot his heavy machine gun at the first of the three victims that the man was unarmed. But he said he didn't know in advance of the attack, and said he was following orders when he fired. No sentence has been issued. Charges of conspiracy and premeditated murder were dismissed as part of the plea deal.